Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) announced the winners of its 23rd Awards for Excellence in Fundraising at a gala dinner for the sector last Thursday evening at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

This year, the newly refreshed awards featured 12 categories and more than 100 entries judged by 33 senior fundraisers from across the country working for a range of fundraising organisations.  

FIA chief executive Katherine Raskob said the awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase outstanding initiative, creativity and effectiveness of professional fundraisers, volunteers and organisations. 

“It’s fabulous to see such an array of inspirational fundraisers whose campaigns, individual and team accomplishments have set such a high standard,” she said. 

Ben Cox, CEO of Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and chair of the FIA Awards Advisory committee, added: “The award entries were exceptional this year and it was challenging for the judges to choose the winners in their respective categories. It was pleasing that the new categories appealed to our members and we saw some genuinely fresh ideas.” 

The awards were generously sponsored by Precision Fundraising and MonDial Telephone Fundraising.  

Winners of the 2020 FIA National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising: 

Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year 

Martin Paul, director, More Strategic  

Young Fundraiser of the Year  

Steffi Chang, major gifts fundraiser, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation 

Volunteer of the Year 

Sister Rita Malavisi – Nominated by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre  

Fundraising Team of the Year  

Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) 

Most Outstanding Fundraising Project  

Multiple Sclerosis Limited – The All New MS Readathon – From the Final Page to Fantastic Future 

​Most Innovative Campaign 

UNICEF Australia – We are the Generation Gifts in Wills campaign  

Best Supporter Experience 

Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation – A robot, a donor, a matched gift and a life saved  

Fundraising Impact through Creativity (joint winners) 

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre – You can be the difference – ASRC Winter Appeal 2019  

And MS Queensland – The Michael & Isabelle Campaign 

​Impact on a Shoestring 

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre – Feast 4 Freedom 

​Best Strategic Partnership 

Starlight Children’s Foundation and EB Games – The Power of Games: Starlight & EB Games  

Impact through Events 

Multiple Sclerosis Limited – The All New MS Readathon – From the Final Page to Fantastic Future 

Supplier Team of the Year 

HomeMade Digital Australia – Nominated by Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation  

About Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) 

FIA is the largest representative body for the $9.9 billion fundraising sector. FIA members include charities and other fundraising not-for-profits operating domestically and internationally as well as the organisations and professionals that provide services to them. FIA advocates for the interests of the sector, administers a self-regulatory Code, educates fundraising practitioners, promotes research, and creates forums for the exchange of knowledge and ideas.